Madrid, 8th of November 2018.- Telefónica today reached an agreement with Grupo Catalana Occidente for the sale of 100% of Antares, its insurance company in Spain, for a total amount of 161 million euros. Antares offers health, life, accident and life savings insurance to more than 200,000 insured individuals in Spain.

The transaction is expected to generate capital gains of around 90 million euros for Telefónica and a reduction in net financial debt of close to 30 million euros.

After the closing of this operation, Grupo Catalana Occidente will continue managing the insurance policies of the Telefonica Group exclusively for the next 10 years, and will integrate Antares employees into its workforce.

The closing of the operation is subject to the pertinent regulatory approvals.

The sale of Antares, a non-core business, is part of the Telefónica Group’s asset portfolio management policy, based on a strategy of rationalization, value creation and optimization of the return on capital employed.

About Antares

Antares is a personal insurance company owned by Telefónica that operates in the life, accident and health lines for private clients and corporate groups. Although its main activity focuses on the groups of employees of the Telefónica Group, it also sells insurance to individuals and groups of other companies.

Antares advises and collaborates in the search of appropriate solutions for any matter related to social security. It started its activity in 1987 and in 2011 the company began its expansion beyond the environment of Telefónica and its employees, providing services to other clients, companies and mediators in Spain. Currently has more than 200,000 insured in Spain, and a large medical staff of health professionals, clinics and hospitals.

As an insurance company, its activity is regulated by a special legal and financial regime, and is subject to the supervision and control of the General Department of Insurance and Pension Funds, under the Ministry of Economy.